Highlights
The government's deficit, nine months into fiscal 2017, is running a very steep 31 percent deeper than last year, at $523.1 billion including $90.2 billion in the month of June. Outlays are up 5.7 percent this fiscal year reflecting higher net interest expenses and increased Medicare payments. Receipts, in contrast, are up only 1.6 percent with individual taxes up only slightly and corporate taxes flat. Calendar quirks are not skewing the numbers as the year-to-date deficit excluding special factors is only slightly smaller, at an estimated $518 billion.

Definition
The U.S. Treasury releases a monthly account of the surplus or deficit of the federal government. Changes in the budget balance reflect Federal policy on spending and taxation. The government's fiscal year begins in October.
Why Investors Care

The federal budget balance is not seasonally adjusted. Consequently, it is useful to compare the current month's budget deficit or surplus to the same month for a couple of years. Some months are known to have large surpluses because quarterly estimated tax payments are received by the government.Data Source: Haver Analytics